Louisville, December 5, 2025
Kentucky Venues has rolled out advanced vending machines at the Kentucky Exposition Center and Kentucky International Convention Center. These machines offer local products, enhancing the guest experience for millions of visitors each year. Equipped with 49-inch interactive touchscreens and developed in collaboration with Pap’s Jerky, the machines provide accessible, energy-efficient shopping options featuring curated Kentucky-made goods. This initiative not only adds value to visitors but also supports event organizers with built-in analytics and digital signage features.
Louisville, Kentucky – Kentucky Venues Enhances Guest Experience with Smart Vending Machines Featuring Local Products
Louisville, Kentucky – Kentucky Venues has introduced advanced vending machines at the Kentucky Exposition Center and Kentucky International Convention Center, aiming to improve visitor experience by offering a variety of local products. These state-of-the-art machines, assembled in the United States, are designed to provide greater value, accessibility, and a taste of Kentucky’s local flavors to the millions of visitors each year.
Introduction of Smart Vending Machines
The newly deployed Envision IQ machines are equipped with 49-inch interactive touchscreens, offering an intuitive, multilingual shopping experience. Developed in collaboration with Louisville-based Pap’s Jerky, these machines provide family-size products, curated Kentucky-made goods, and combo options that go beyond traditional single-serve vending. This initiative aims to enhance the guest experience during events and on days when concessions may be limited.
Features and Benefits
- Accessibility and Sustainability: The machines feature fully accessible purchasing from a lower touch-screen interface, energy-efficient operating modes, and multilingual product displays to support international attendees.
- Digital Asset for Event Organizers: Each machine functions as a campus-wide digital signage display, allowing event managers and sponsors to promote programming, deliver venue messaging, push emergency alerts, and showcase branded content.
- Real-Time Insights: Built-in analytics track foot-traffic patterns, trending products, dwell time, and purchasing behavior, providing actionable data to enhance planning and improve the guest experience.
Showcasing Kentucky Products
The machines debut with a lineup of local favorites, including Kentucky Venues Snack Mix, Pap’s Jerky, Kizito Cookies, and Bourbon Barrel Foods. They have the capacity for large multi-spiral items, maximizing value for families, exhibitors, and event organizers.
About Kentucky Venues
Kentucky Venues operates two premier facilities in Louisville—the Kentucky Exposition Center (KEC) and the Kentucky International Convention Center (KICC). As both a world-class host and proven event organizer, Kentucky Venues produces flagship events such as the Kentucky State Fair, the National Farm Machinery Show, and the World’s Championship Horse Show, while welcoming conventions, trade shows, sporting events, and exhibitions from around the globe. With 1.4 million square feet of indoor space, 356 acres of outdoor grounds, and a LEED-certified downtown convention center, Kentucky Venues offers unmatched flexibility and accessibility.
Key Features of Kentucky Venues’ New Smart Vending Machines
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Interactive Touchscreens | 49-inch screens providing an intuitive, multilingual shopping experience for visitors. |
| Local Product Offerings | Featuring Kentucky-made goods such as Kentucky Venues Snack Mix, Pap’s Jerky, Kizito Cookies, and Bourbon Barrel Foods. |
| Digital Signage Capabilities | Serving as campus-wide digital signage displays to promote programming, deliver venue messaging, and showcase branded content. |
| Real-Time Data Analytics | Built-in analytics tracking foot-traffic patterns, trending products, dwell time, and purchasing behavior to enhance planning and improve the guest experience. |
| Accessibility and Sustainability | Designed with fully accessible purchasing interfaces, energy-efficient operating modes, and multilingual product displays to support international attendees. |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What are the new vending machines introduced by Kentucky Venues?
Kentucky Venues has introduced advanced vending machines at the Kentucky Exposition Center and Kentucky International Convention Center, offering a variety of local products to enhance the visitor experience.
What products are available in these new vending machines?
The machines feature local favorites such as Kentucky Venues Snack Mix, Pap’s Jerky, Kizito Cookies, and Bourbon Barrel Foods, providing a taste of Kentucky’s local flavors to visitors.
How do these vending machines enhance the guest experience?
The machines offer an intuitive, multilingual shopping experience with interactive touchscreens, provide real-time data insights for event organizers, and function as digital signage displays to promote programming and venue messaging.
Who developed these smart vending machines?
The Envision IQ machines were developed in collaboration with Louisville-based Pap’s Jerky, aiming to showcase local products and enhance the visitor experience at Kentucky Venues.
What is the capacity of these vending machines?
The machines have the capacity for large multi-spiral items, maximizing value for families, exhibitors, and event organizers, and offering a variety of products beyond traditional single-serve vending options.
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